PODCAST · news
Community Matters
by communitymatters
Community Matters features guest interviews to discuss topics of interest to the Santa Cruz Community. We aim to help people better understand important local issues and learn how to get involved to make a positive difference. Please listen and call in to join the discussions.Listen to Community Matters live every Friday from 2:00pm to 4:00 pm PT on https://santacruzvoice.com
Episodes
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April 24, 2026 Interview with Mr. Michael Polkabla, Senior Industrial Hygienist with BioMax Environmental t
Mr. Michael Polkabla describes the initial County of Monterey and EPA responses to the January 16, 2025 Moss 300 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire, how he worked with the Community to organize the widespread surface sampling for heavy metals and helped publish the results on the Never…
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April 17, 2026 Interview with Mr. Ed Mitchell, Lead Investigator for Never Again Moss Landing
Mr. Ed Mitchell discusses the problems with the Vistra Moss 300 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility that contributed to the fire disaster on January 16, 2025, why it is good news Vistra is now decommissioning the Moss 100 BESS facility, and his thoughts on the Santa Cruz County BESS…
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February 27, 2026 Interview with Cabrillo College President Dr. Jenn Capps & Mkting. Director Ms. Kristin Fabos; 2nd Hour: Mr. Lee Butler, Planning Director for City of Santa Cruz
Hour One: Meet the new President of Cabrillo College, Dr. Jenn Capps, joined by Marketing & Communications Director Ms. Kristin Fabos. Dr. Capps guided the change at Humboldt University to become Cal Polytechnic Humboldt. How does she envision Cabrillo College in the future? I think you will like...
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February 20, 2026 Interviews Bob Broussard re: S.C.C. Civil Grand Jury; Dr. Mijin Cha re: BESS and environmental justice
Hour One: Mr. Bob Broussard, current Foreperson of the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury, describes the work of the Civil Grand Jury, the investigations that lead to improved local government and how people can volunteer to participate in the 2026-2027 Civil Grand Jury....
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February 13, 2026 Interview with Dr. Xiaoliang Wang re: Moss Landing Battery Fire and Toxins; Update on Santa Cruz County Draft BESS Ordinance; A Voice for Mila B.
Hour One: Dr. Xiaoliang Wang, Director of Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Program at University of Nevada, Reno, is the principal investigator of projects to study lithium-ion battery fire emissions and suppression, vehicle tailpipe and non-tailpipe (brake, tire, and road wear) emissions, emissions...
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February 6, 2026 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) updates [short program due to technical difficulties]]
Due to technical difficulties, today's program is very short, but includes updates on February 3 Monterey County Board of Supervisor actions re: Moss Landing BESS Fire Clean Up and anticipated March 17 Report to the Board, updates on Santa Cruz County's Draft BESS Ordinance and upcoming February…
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January 30, 2026 Interview with Mr. Drew Bohan, Cal. Energy Commission Executive Director: Ms. Ashley Bridges, Pajaro Loaves and Fishes Executive Director
Hour One: Mr. Drew Bohan, Executive Director of California Energy Commission (CEC), discusses the process for Opt-In Certification of large non-fossil fuel power facilities and energy storage systems that streamlines permitting process. The CEC makes the decisions, not local land-use agencies…
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Janury 23, 2026 Guest Interviews with Gillian Greensite (Santa Cruz City Affordable Housing Ministerial Approval Overlay); Jim Wason (Winter Field Day); Ed Mitchell (Moss Landing Vistra BESS Fire)
2:06pm-3pm, Guest Gillian Greensite will discuss the impending action of Santa Cruz City Council to erase the public's involvement in large construction projects in a broad swath of town if there is affordable housing involved, and to make it easier for developers to chop down large heritage…
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January 16, 2026 1st Hour: Nina Audino re: Santa Cruz County BESS Ordinance; 2nd Hour: Scott Smith Blue Sjirt Justice League & EPA Whistleblowers
One year ago today, the Moss 300 lithium battery storage facility in Moss Landing erupted in massive toxic flames. Dedicating this program to those who have come together to seek the truth about what happened and why. Hour One: Nina Audino describes questions re: environmental analysis and...
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January 9, 2026 Interview Gary Patton & Measure J; Carol Bjorn, Phillip Carranco, Karell Reader re:County BESS Ordinance
First Hour: Gary Patton discusses the 1978 Voter Referedum Measure J's importance in continuing to preserve agricultural lands, require 15% affordable housing in new subdivision projects, define the urban services line and require an annual County Growth Goal that reflects the County's fair share...
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December 19, 2025 Interviews [One hour only due to power outage): Friends of Santa Cruz Public Libraries; Arukah Project
1) Interview with Ms. Sarah Beck, Executive Director of Friends of Santa Cruz Public Libraries as a participant in the Santa Cruz Gives campaign: https://www.friendsofsantacruzlibraries.org/ https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/friendsofsantacruzlibraries/ 2) Interview with Ms. Loreal Weitzel,...
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December 19, 2025 Interviews: Sara Beck & Friends of SC County Libraries; Loreal Weitzel & Arukah Project
Hour One: Friends of the Santa Cruz Library - Sarah Beck, Executive Director https://www.friendsofsantacruzlibraries.org/ https://santacruzgives.org/nonprofit/friendsofsantacruzlibraries/ Arukah Project - Loreal Weitzel, Executive Director https://www.arukahproject.org/ Help fund the HOPE House…
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December 12, 2025 Interviews with Local Non-Profits (Santa Cruz Gives) Senior Legal Services, El Pajaro CDC, Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support
2:05pm - Ms. Rosalina Nunez, Supervising Attorney for Senior Legal Services describes helping elderly navigate legal issues, including senior benefits, landlord / tenant issues, advanced care directives, and elder abuse. Your donation can help provide free legal service to anyone over 60 years…
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December 5, 2025 Interview with Mr. Amin AbuAmara about the Rail Trail; Groundwater Issues in MidCounty with Mr. Jon Kennedy
Hour One: Discussion of Rising Worldwide event and human trafficking in Santa Cruz County; update on Santa Cruz County BESS rules, and what the County Board of Supervisors have on consent agenda upcoming. 2:30pm Guest Mr. Amin AbuAmara, Director of Capital Improvement Projects for Santa Cruz…
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November 28, 2025 Interviews: Hour one: Amateur Radio Operators Roberta Roberts & Pete Johnson: Last Week's Search & Rescue Comm's; Jpir Two BESS Updates; Kris Kirby Runs for Office
Hour One: Roberta Roberts and Pete Johnson describe how Amateur Radio helped over 100 Search & Rescue volunteers in challenging terrain, interacting with volunteers from many agencies from throughout California. Hour Two: Update on Monterey and Santa Cruz County large-scale battery energy storage...
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November 21, 2025 Interview with Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church, Phillip Carranco, Karell Reader re: BESS moratorium/ ordinance
Hour One: Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church discusses why Board's decision to reject a moratorium on large battery energy storage system (BESS) projects will help move the County to develop the rules to regulate where they are allowed and safety requirements for how they operate. Contact…
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November 14, 2025 Interview with Tom Ginsburg: 3720 Capitola Road Project; Interview with Nina Beety: MBARI's harmful sonar mapping project
Hour One: Interview with Capitola Resident Tom Ginsburg: how the Bulb Ave. neighborhood has come together to present reasonable, fact-based discussions to the Capitola City Council as large, dense development projects are proposed (philosophy of BRIMBY...Be Respectful In My BackYard). The…
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November 7, 2025 Hour 1: Discussion of Santa Cruz County BESS; Hour 2: Vets 4 Vets Interview
Hour 1: News about release of Santa Cruz County's new rules for siting potentially flammable and explosive large battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in neighborhoods. Info from Nina Audion, leader of Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County. Hour 2: Interview with Wendy Core, Michael...
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October 31, 2025 Interviews re: BESS Issues with Supervisor Glenn Church, Nina Audino and Brian Roeder
Hour One: Supervisor Glenn Church discusses importance of proposed BESS moratorium in Monterey County to enable careful drafting of BESS Ordinance; Nina Audino (Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County) discusses safety problems with current lithium BESS technology and what Santa Cruz County Draft...
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October 17, 2025 Interview of Sandy Lydon on the Anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake
Hour One and Hour Two: Today, 36 years ago, the Loma Prieta Earthquake shook the land and souls of our area. Centered in Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos but reverberating into the Bay Area, it was a BIG event that many remember. I am honored to host Mr. Sandy Lydon, local historian, for the full...
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October 10, 2025 Hour 1: Update re: BESS in Santa Cruz County; HHour 2: Barak Laub and Jess T. Rising Worldwide & Film View
Hour 1: Santa Cruz County Supervisors plan to vote on new County battery energy storage system (BESS) projects next month. Why is 3CE supporting dangerous lithium BESS projects in our area. Status of 90 Minto Rd. BESS project in permit process. Hour 2: Barak Laub discusses his film " how he…
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October 3, 2025 BESS Update for SC; Kris Kirby & Oregon; Marta & Ilea Buliach on Watsonville Homelssnes Plan
Hour 1: Program dedicated to Jondi Gumz, RIP Excellent Reporter. https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/obituaries/jolande-gumz-scotts-valley/ Updates re: BESS update in Santa Cruz County: Urgent action needed! Attend the October 8 Panel of expert discussion regarding the truth behind what happened at...
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September 26, 2025 Hour One: Scott Smith/ Blue Shirt Justice League: Truth Behind the Moss Landing Battery Fire Disaster; Hour Two: David Hurwitz / CASI: Oct. 8 Briefing on "Meltdown in Moss Landing"
Hour One: Guest Scott Smith discusses the Moss Landing Battery Fire and the disturbing pattern of unacceptable response from agencies responsible for public safety and disaster response, urging people to work together to demand accountability and action. Preliminary soil samples align with the...
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Sept. 19, 2025 Interview Hour One: Arukah Project & Human Trafficking; Hour Two: Santa Cruz County Long Term Recovery Group & CZU Fire/Flood Rebuilding
Hour One: Leaders of Arukah Project talk about sex trafficking in Santa Cruz County, the need for prevention and training responders to recognize the signs of trafficking, and the challenge of being able to support increasing numbers of calls for help from victims wanting to escape and local...
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Sept. 5, 2025 Interviews: Hour One: Dori Rose Inda, CEO of Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds; Hour 2: Dr. Matt Wetstein and Ms. Kristin Fabos, Cabrillo College
Hour One: New CEO of Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Ms. Dori Rose Inda, discusses her background at Salud para la Gente and social work, and now in her new role as CEO of the Fairgrounds. What will be new for the County Fair...opening next week! Followed by a separate discussion by Host Becky re:...
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August 29, 2025 Hour One Interview with Andy Caldwell "Voice of Reason" Host re: Nipomo BESS; Discussion of Scott Smith Presenting Dioxin Test Results at Moss Landing Battery Fire Area
Hour One: Interview with Andy Caldwell, COLAB in Santa Barbara County re: Caballero Battery Energy Storage Site (BESS) approved by fire chief and planning commission because there was no ordinance in place....
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August 22, 2025 Hour One: Interview with Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church re: Moss Landing Vistra Fire ; Hour Two: Felton Fire District Chief Blum and Board: the Fire District's Futurerict
Hour One: Summary of Santa Cruz County Supervisor Actions re: grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) projects and draft ordinance, and Commission on the Environment Final BESS Workshop. Second District Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church discusses the current progress to clean up…
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August 15, 2025 Interview with Dr. Michael Hogan (Ca Arts & Sciences Institute) re: Oct. 8 Impacts of Lithium BESS Event; Mr. John Hassar: Invinity non-lithium BESS
Hour One: Dr. Michael Hogan describes the October 8 CASI event to provide an impartial expert panel discussion to educate the public on the impacts of lithium BESS on health, soils and the integration within the electrical grid. https://casicalifornia.org/ Mr. John Hasar, representing Invinity...
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August 8, 2025 Interview with Ed Mitchell, Lead Ivestigator for Never Again Moss Landing
HOur One: Ed Mitchel outlines lessons learned from the Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire Disaster and offers suggestions for actions that County residents need to take as permitting of the 90 Minto Road Lithium Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) moves forward with permitting...to insist our…
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August 1, 2025 Hour One: Interview with Roxanne and David re: RTC Demands to Mobile Home Park Residents in Capitola to Move; Second Hour: Felton Fire Dept. Issues; Lithium BESS Updates
Hour One: Guests Roxanne and David discuss the update on the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission's (RTC) demand of Castle Estates and Blue & Gold Star Mobile Home owners whose homes, according to the RTC, encroach into the rail corridor and must be moved...or else. Hour Two: Brief...
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July 18, 2025 Full Interview with Regional Transportation Commission CEO Sarah Christensen re: Highway One and Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line Projects
This is the complete interview for both hours, with Hour One devoted to RTC Sarah Christensen. Hour Two: Discussion of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) issues.
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July 25, 2025 Hour One: Discussion of State Fire Marshal BESS Fire Safety Symposium; Hour Two: Continued BESS Discussion & Rail Trail Info
Hour One: What were the takeaways of the July 24, 2025 State Fire Marshal Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fire Safety Symposium? Fire Officials can be driving the local BESS Ordinance for public and firefighter safety. Questionable claims by EPA of inability to calibrate equipment at Moss...
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July 18, 2025 Hour ONe: Discussion of Battery Energy Storage Issues; Hour Two: Interview With Ms. Sarah Christensen, CEO Santa Cruz RTC re: passenger rail and highway projects.
Hour One: Discussion of recent public meetings by Never Again Moss Landing https://neveragainmosslanding.org/ and Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County https://www.stoplithiumbessinsantacruz.org/ and why it is important to boycott 3CE by Opting OUT:...
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July 11, 2025 Interview with Ms. Skylar Sacoolas of GreenAction...Helping Moss Landing After the Vistra Battery Fire
Hour One: Ms. Skylar Sacoolas describes GreenAction and what she is doing to support the residents injured by the 2025 Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire. https://greenaction.org/ https://neveragainmosslanding.org/ Hour Two: Continued discussion of lithium battery energy storage systems (BESS)...
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June 27, 2025 Hour 1: Interview With Brian Peoples, Trail Now; Hour 2: Interview With Brian Roeder, Never Again Moss Landing Update/Nina Audino, Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County
Hour One: Brian Peoples of Trail Now discusses recent RTC passenger rail feasibility study of $4.28 Billion Project and why rail banking and trail only should be prioritized. Caller Cami Corvin discusses related encroachment problems for Capitola mobile home park residents and updates. Hour Two:...
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June 13, 2025 1st Hour: Mr. Ed Mitchell, Lead Investigator for Never Again Moss Landing..why did agencies fail to respond? 2nd Hour, discussing proposed grid-scale lithium BESS in Watsonville
Hour One: Lead Investigator Mr. Ed Mitchell discusses lack of planning and response from EPA on January 16, 2025 Moss Landing BESS Fire, how he was affected and what people need to do now. https://neveragainmosslanding.org/ Hour Two: Host Becky Steinbruner discusses history of Santa Cruz County's...
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June 6, 2025 Hour One: Tim Richards re: Appeal of 151' Cell Tower in Bonny Doon; Hour Two: Jami Wallace re: Similarities in Agency Actions in East Palestine, OH and Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire
Hour One: Guest Tim Richards discusses his rural Community's hard work to push back on having a 151' tall cell phone tower built in their backyard. Scheduled as Item #10 on the June 10 Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisor agenda, the Community of Bonny Doon will push back on the appeal before…
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May 30, 2025 Interviews Hour 1: Sally Arnold with Friends of Rail & Trail; Hour 2: Brian Roeder with Never Again Moss Landing
Hour One: Sally Arnold describes Friends of Rail & Trail, recent opening of new trail serving the Westside, actions yet to come. https://www.railandtrail.org/ Hour Two: Brian Roeder describes Never Again Moss Landing results of Scientist Panel discussion held in Moss Landing, and the June 2…
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May 23, 2025 Hour One: Never Again Moss Landing BESS and Santa Cruz County BESS Politics; Hour Two: Barry Branin re: Morro Bay BESS and Activism
Hour One: Never Again Moss Landing Event with Scientists on May 24 and discussion about three proposed BESS sites for Santa Cruz County..keeping pressure on elected officials to listen to the people! Hour Two: Barry Branin, Protect El Estero Bay and the Morro Bay City Council's two-year…
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May 16, 2025 Hour One: What did the Santa Cruz City Coucil Approve re: Downtown Expansion Plan? Hour 2: Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County; Life After Moving Out of California
Hour One: Gillian Greensite, Frank Barron & Keresha Durham discuss what the Santa Cruz City Council approved May 13 relating to the City's Downtown Expansion Plan for South of Laurel. How tall could the future buildings be around the new Arena? Three city blocks slated for demolition, but how…
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May 9, 2025 Interview with Frank Barron and Keresha Durham re: Santa Cruz City Downtown Explansion Plan Souht of Laurel Area
Both hours devoted to discussing this massive and monumental project to convert 29 acres in Downtown Santa Cruz, South of Laurel. The Santa Cruz City Council will consider this project May 13, making decisions that could forever change the character of Santa Cruz with buildings as high as 16-24...
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1st Hour: Ross Gibson re: Redman-Hirahara Farmstead Importance of Preservation; 2nd Hour: Brian Roeder re: Never Again Moss Landing & Nina Audino re: Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County
1st Hour: Ross Gibson discusses County Historic Resources Commission's unnecessary quick action to de-list Redman-Hirahara Farmstead from the National Historic Registry and why preservation is critical of this iconic 1897 Victorian designed by William Weeks and highlighting the action Watsonville...
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April 25, 2025 Interview 1) Karell Reader re: Redman/Hirahara Farmstead Preservation, 2) John Hall & Lira Filippini re: Our Downtown, Our Future and the downtown parking garage/library, farmer mkt mkt
1st Hour: Karell Reader describes the rich history of the Redman/Hirahara Farmstead, how residents rallied to help the Hirahara family and other Japanese-American citizens keep their land after imprisoned in WWII, The Foundation's attempt to preserve it, and now the County's drive to delist it…
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April 18, 2025 Renee Flemming & Santa Cruz County Law Library; Coty Sifuentes-Winters & MidPen Eucalyptus Removals at Sierra Azul Preserve
First Hour: Santa Cruz County Law Librarian Ms. Renee Flemming describes what help and information are available to navigate various legal issues with or without an attorney, and how the Library was established in 1896 by a County Ordinance, and is funded and managed today. Second Hour: Mr. Coty...
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April 11, 2025 First Hour interview with Ryan McCauley...MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District and wildflower hikes; Big developer now on Planning Comm.; Hour 2: Stop Lithium BESS event 4/14/25
First Hour: Ryan McCauley, MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District, discusses formation of the District in 1972, to acquire and protect 62,000 acres as 26 Preserves, most open to the public for hiking, funding second safe wildlife crossing under Hwy 17, and a pedestrian/equestrian overpass, and...
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April 4, 2025 Interview with Neil Pearlberg "Off the Lip" discussion of Senator John Laird about Moss Landing Battery Fire issues, Santa Cruz's character; Sean Dougherty Greens Say NO to Lithium BESS
First Hour: Neil Pearlberg talks about what happened following his podcast with Senator John Laird about Moss Landing Battery Fire; importance of civil and neutral "Off the Lip" public forums, convening a panel of experts to talk about lithium BESS alternatives, and wondering about why Downtown...
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March 28, 2025 First Hour: Bryan Shields discusses Nor Cal Carpenters Union and UCSC construction issues; Second hour: Kris Kirby ... Oregon Fire Map resistance; Nina Audino: STOP Lithium BESS in SC
First Hour: Bryan Shields describes value and importance of Nor Cal Carpenters Union, Women in Construction Career Day (4/25), problems with W.E. O'Niel Construction Co. and ADCO Drywall & Metal Framing subcontractors at UCSC Hagar Construction Project. Urged letters to UC Regents to require...
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March 21, 2025 Assemblymember Dawn Addis re: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Moss Landing Fire (2nd hour)
First Hour: Local topics re: Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects proposed in Santa Cruz County, County Board of Supervisor issues, Watsonville Gateway Project causing Redman-Hirahara House de-listing from National Historic Registry with the support of County Historic Resources...
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March 14, 2025 Ilyea Buliach, Marta Buliach and Catalina Torres discussing Watsonville City's Possible Fraudulent Actions re: Tiny Village
Watsonville City officials kept many City Councilmembers in the dark regarding Monterey County's $8million grant-funded plan to bus homeless to a low-barrier shelter in parking lot of a Watsonville neighborhood, allowing the Community Action Board to run it with no experience in doing so. The...
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March 7, 2025 Hour One: Gillian Greensite: Workforce Housing Solutions Act Problems; Hour Two: Kris Kirby: Move Out of California
Hour One: Gillian Greensite discusses why Santa Cruz City's Workforce Housing Solutions Act initiative makes claims that local workers would have preference for affordable housing but the City of Santa Cruz cannot verify such a claim could be upheld because the Grand Jury "Housing for Whom?"...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Community Matters features guest interviews to discuss topics of interest to the Santa Cruz Community. We aim to help people better understand important local issues and learn how to get involved to make a positive difference. Please listen and call in to join the discussions.Listen to Community Matters live every Friday from 2:00pm to 4:00 pm PT on https://santacruzvoice.com
HOSTED BY
communitymatters
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Community Matters currently has 68 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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Community Matters features guest interviews to discuss topics of interest to the Santa Cruz Community. We aim to help people better understand important local issues and learn how to get involved to make a positive difference. Please listen and call in to join the discussions.Listen to Community...
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